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Join the show as we talk with retired Army strategist and West Point professor Matt Cavanaugh . Matt is the only living kidney donor to complete RacingThePlanet's 4 Deserts Grand Slam—an ultramarathon series considered one of the toughest endurance challenges on earth. After earning two Bronze Stars in Iraq, Matt hit a personal low. In an act of radical generosity, he donated a kidney to a stranger—sparking a donation chain that saved seven more lives. Just months after surgery, he raced across four continents in a single year, turning personal scars into strength. His new book, Best Scar Wins, out December 2, 2025, features a foreword by ultrarunning legend Dean Karnazes and combines lessons from combat, extreme endurance, and intentional recovery to explore what it really takes to turn pain into purpose.
By MBR Talk RewindsJoin the show as we talk with retired Army strategist and West Point professor Matt Cavanaugh . Matt is the only living kidney donor to complete RacingThePlanet's 4 Deserts Grand Slam—an ultramarathon series considered one of the toughest endurance challenges on earth. After earning two Bronze Stars in Iraq, Matt hit a personal low. In an act of radical generosity, he donated a kidney to a stranger—sparking a donation chain that saved seven more lives. Just months after surgery, he raced across four continents in a single year, turning personal scars into strength. His new book, Best Scar Wins, out December 2, 2025, features a foreword by ultrarunning legend Dean Karnazes and combines lessons from combat, extreme endurance, and intentional recovery to explore what it really takes to turn pain into purpose.